Artificial leg.



Patented Apr. 24, I900.

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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brai y M NT J. A. PEER.

ARTIFICIAL LEG. (Application filed Jam 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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No. 648,345. Patented Apr. 24, 1900. J. A. PEER. ARTIFICIAL LEG.(Application filed June 15, 1899.) (No Mqdel.) 4 Shoots-Sheet 2.

m a. 6 A

(No Model.)

J. A. PEER.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

(Application filed June 15, 1899.)

Patented Apr. 24, I900.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 No. 648,345. Patented Apr. 24, 1900.

' J. A. PEER. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

(Application filed June 15, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. PEER, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 648,345, dated April 24,1900. Application filedlunelo, 1899. Serial No. 720,614. (No model.)

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in artificial legs. f

One object of my invention is to provide an artificial leg whosemovements will more nearly resemble those of the natural leg than anyartificial leg heretofore known to me.

A further object of my invention is to avoid the dangers of breakage atthe joints, which have been common in artificial legs heretoforeconstructed, to provide for the ready adjustment of the joints, and totake up automatically all lost motion in such joints.

With these main objects in view and some others which will be obvious tothe skilled in the art my invention consists in the features, details ofconstruction, and combinations of parts, which will first be describedinconnection with the accompanying drawings and then particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artificial legembodying my improvements; Fig. 2, asimilar View taken from the oppositeside, showing the knee-socket swung over; Fig. 3, a transversesectionalview of the entire leg on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.; Fig. 4,alongitudinal section of the foot; Figs. 5 and 6, detail perspectiveviews illustrating the two parts of a toe-joint; Figs. 7, 8, and 9,detail elevationsof one form of ankle-joint employed by me; Figs. 10,11, and 12, similar views of another form of toe-joint employed by me;Figs. 13 and 13, detail elevations of two forms of knee'socket-fasteningdevices which may be employed in connection with my invention; Fig. 14,a plan view of the ventilated stump-plate; Figs. 15 and 16, a detailsection and side elevation, respectively, of a knee-joint and knee-jointbolt; Fig. 17, anelevation of the mechanical sinew; Fig. 18, a sectionalview illustrating a modified form of ankle-joint-fastening deviceembodying my invention. Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail sectional view ofthe knee-joint bolt and stayplates separated from each other, the latterbeing partly broken away.

For the sake of perspicuity Iwill describe my various improvements inartificial legs under the following heads:

I. The knee-joint.

II. The ankle-joint.

III. The toe-piece and the toe-joint.

IV. The thigh-socket.

V. The artificial calf and its ventilated stump-plate. I

I. The 7mee-j0z nt -Each knee-joint comprises two sets of jointmechanism, one set for each side of the leg, each set, furthermore,comprising an upper and a lower stayplate, a joint-bolt, a mechanismwhich I will term the mechanical sinew, and suitable cushioning devices.

I will now describe in detail one set of joint mechanism, it beingunderstood that the corresponding sets of joint mechanism forming aknee-joint differ from each other only in being rights and lefts,termswhichwill be fully understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings, A is an upper stay-plate, provided at a withan upward-extending socket havingan opening in its bot-- tom, as shownat a in Fig. 19. In front of and below the said socket a is arranged adownward extending socket a to carry a cushion. The upper stay-plate Ais also provided with a downward-extending lug or ear a Fig. 19, whichis offset laterally, in the present case toward the inside of the leg.

The lower stay-plate B, which coacts with the upper stay-plate, has adownward-extending socket b, provided with an opening b above it, asshown in Fig. 19, and withasec- 0nd socket b Figs. 1 and 2, whichextends upward and which is in front of the socket I), being alsoarranged to come opposite the downward-extending socket a of the upperstay-plate. The said lower stay-plate B also has a lug or ear projectingupward, which lug or ear is offset laterally, in the present instanceaway from the leg.

Each lug or ear a b is provided with a bolthole, a and 19 as shown, theinner and outer faces of the lugs 0. and 13 being countersunk around therespective bolt-holes,as will be seen in Fig. 19. The lugs are arrangedto come 0pposite each other in such a position that their other. e i IThe lugs or? 19 f each pair of stay-Iplates'A Bl'are movably connectedin proper opera respective, bolt-holes will register with each tiverelation by means of a knee pivot-bolt 0, Fig.119, which has acentralportionfcom prising a groove substantially semicircular,

as indicated, atc, and a'flange cat eachside 'oftsaidgroove. -The boltprojects at each end beyond the flang'es'c', as shown at oilthevextremeendsi'being reduced somewhat in'di-I a1neter,.'as shown at 0 .1.Each reduced end is u Y arranged to receivea washer (1, as will be(3X1,-

pla'ined hereinafter'.

sunk-portionof the lug, whereuponthe end of thepivot-bolt' maybe rivetedto hold the. "saidwasher in place. The other stay-plate is now securedto theopposite end of the pivot+ bolt in a similar manner. At this stageof theconstruc'tion we will havean upper and a'lower stay-plate A and B,respectively, each;

pivotally connected to the pivot-bolt O .by

means of .their lugs, which will be separated from each other by the twoflanges o and the groovec, while; the axes of the sockets a b a? b willall bein one vertical plane;

In the sockets c 19 rubber plugs arevinser'ted, which of course willcome into contact with each other when the .two stay-plates movein onedirection, thereby yieldingly limiting the movement of the stay-platesabout their common axis in the said direction.

, stay-plates about their common axis is limited by the contact ofthe'si'des of theist-ayplates. The-points of contact are indicated at ab, respectively, Figs. 1 and 2.

I will now proceed to describe what I term the mechanical sine w. Thisconsistsof a pair of bolts D D, Fig. 17, threaded; at the outer ends,upon which are screwed adjust ing-nuts d d, .Figu 15, provided withpin-' holes (1 to receive theendjof an ordinary ad justing-pin, spanner,or the like.

i The inner ends of the bolts D D are connected by a knuckle-joint ofthe usual kind, as shown at One of the said bolts is also prov videdwith a square portion 01 whichis of such a width as to'be nearly equalto the distance between the {ianges c of the pivot-bolt'O, for a purposehereinafter described. Before the two stay-plates A-and B are pivotedtogether, as above described, the mechanical sinew is 'put in place byinserting the respective ends of the bolts D-D through the openings ctb,'-Fig.

19, in the-bottoms of their respective sockets a. b, after which elasticwashers E Ejare V The. movement in the opposite direction of. the

slipped over the ends of' said bolts D and allowed toenter thesaidsockets, the-adjusting-nu ts being then screwed upon the threadedends of the. bolts, care being taken that in assembling all the parts ofa joint n echanism the swive'l-jointd connecting the bolts Dis arrangedto permit the movement of the stay-plates about their axes,while thesquaredfportiondfremains between the two .flanges o of the pivot-bolt-Oorinthe' space between the lugs a Ib thereby preventing the turning ofthe bolts D D, and-hence;retainin'g themin their proper operativerelation.

It is to. be noted, that in 'my construction i .thefswivel-jointd"ofxthejtwobolts DD is ,j normally in closeeontact with thepivot-bolt;Hence as'the two stay-plates A B. areswung fror'ntheirnormallpositiontoa position where their longitudinal axes are at right.angles to each otherithehnechanical sinew-will com- .pre'ss the'elasticcushions through which it "passes, and the't'wo bolts D Dforming'saidmechanical sinewwill also-lie with their axes at-an'angle to each other,turning on their .swivel joint'd? ;In 'my 'improved knee joint, whichcomprises-two mechanisms such asj ust. described, (with the differencethatone is a right and the other a left,)fthe lower stay 'plates arescrewed or otherwise ffastened to the lower leg portion F, asshown,while the upper stayplatecarries the knee-socket, being bolted, riveted,screwed, 'or otherwise fastened to said knee-sockea Q lnthev ordinaryuse of an artificial leg embodying my improved kneej-jointthe normalposition of the knee-joint device will bewith the two lower cushions incontactwith' each other. Hence these cushions and the pivotbolts 0 willtransmit the weight uponthe knee-socket to "the ground inanj elasticmannerand-without jarri'ngthe stump of the limb which is secured to theartificial leg; In Walking the mechanical sinews will compress theircushionsas the lower leg portion F is bent backward at the knee-joint atthe time when theother leg has moved one step-forward.

Therefore when the artificial leg is raised from the ground for thenext'step-themechan- IIO ical sinew, owing to theelasticity of its cush-'ions, will pullf the lowerleg portion into line with the knee-socket,thereby' causing the lower leg portion to swing forward, wherebyitcomesinto position forthe next step. At

the same time'the cushions of the mechanical sinew take up all lostmotion which might arise in .the knee-joint from wear, this lost motionbeing taken up automatically, owing to the fact that the said cushionsof the mechanical sinew maintain a pressure on the joint, and thus keepthe parts from rattling. It. is to be particularlynoted that. in myimproved knee-joint when the wearer sits down, and thereby bringsthe'knee-socket at an angle't-o the lower-leg portion, the mechanicalsinew is bent on its swivel-joint, so that the cushions'pfthesaidmechanioal sinew pull at an angle to each other, the strain of eachcushion tending to draw the corresponding opposite bolt into closecontact with the pivot-bolt 0. Hence as the wearer sits down there isbut little or no tendency on the part of the mechanical sinew to draw onthe lower leg portion. This is a great advantage, since it allows theleg to be bent at the knee with out great effort on the part of thewearer.

II. The an7cle;j0int.-My improved anklejoint comprises an upper part Gand a lower part G, oneof which is provided with a ball 9 and the otherwith a corresponding socket g, arranged to coact with the ball in theusual manner. Both the ball and socket are provided with centralopenings g preferably flared, as shown. At the outer side of the parts GG are formed sockets, as indicated at 9 One of the parts-as, forexample, the

part G-is provided with a pair of projecting semicircular ears garranged to enter corresponding bearings g in the opposite part G, thesaid ears 9 and their bearings 9 together forming a swivel-joint, thisbeing possible for the reason that the faces of the two parts G G slopeat an obtuse angle away from the axis of the joint, so that when theball and socket are in contact and the ears 9 resting in their bearings9 there will be a space between the two faces of the parts G G at theouter edges away from'the axis of the joint. The said parts G G areprovided with corresponding registering recesses arranged to receiverubber or other elastic cushions. In

Fig. 8 four of these cushions g are shown,

while in Fig. 3 I have shown a single circular cushion g surrounding theball and'socket. In order to hold the two parts G G together,

a central bolt H is passed through the open-' ing in the ball andsocket, respectively, and also through elastic cushions g which arelocated in the sockets g the bolt H having a slotted head or screw-headat the lower end and a nut or the like at the upper end.

In uniting the foot to the lower leg portion by means of myimprovedankle-joint I form the usual sort of socket .in the upper or ankleportion of the footpiece I and screw'one of the parts, as G, to thefootpiece I, and bolt the other part G to the lower end of the legportion proper by suitable bolts passing through a plate, as shown. Thebolt His then put in place to unite the two parts G G, thus uniting thefoot portion of the artificial leg to the lower leg portion, the saidbolt H being inserted into place through a hole 2' in the bot-' tom ofthe foot portion. Through the hole i the said screw-headed bolt may bereached with a screw-driver in order to adjust the tension of the joint.

III. The toepiece and its $z.vrvel-j01 nt.One of the most importantfeatures of my invention consistsgof the formation of the toepiece andthe relative location of the axis of the joint of said toepiece, as willbe more fully understood from the description hereinafter.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, 0 is the toepiece, arranged to beconnected to the foot by a suitable joint device, such as the onehereinafter described. The axis oof the joint is located above thebottom surface of the toepiece, and the said toepiece extends rearwardof the vertical plane passing through said axis, said toepiece therebypartaking of the nature of a lover of the first order fulcrumed at theaxis 0. The toepiece has a movement about its axis from a position wherethe bottom surface of the toepiece may rest firmly on the ground, asshown by the full lines in Fig. 4, to a position where the front portionof the toepiece is inclined upward and forward, as shown by the dottedlines in Fig. 4. The latter position I will call the normal one, and thetoepiece is retained yieldingly in said normal position by suitableelastic or yielding means, preferably,

however, by the toe-joint, which will be' de-- scribed hereinafter.Hencewhen the front portion of the toepiece is in its normal positionthe portion back of the vertical plane through the axis of the toe-jointwill extend downward below the surface of the bottom of the foot portionI, as will appear from Fig. 4:. Cousequ ently when the artificial leg isswung forward in taking a step the heel comes into contact with theground first, and then as the weight of the wearer is brought forward,and the calf of the leg assumes a more nearly upright position the rearportion 0' of the toepiece is brought into contact with the ground,thereby forcing said rear portion upward, while the front portion of thesaid toe-piece 'is thereby forced downward until finally the bottom ofthe toepiece is brought into close contact with the ground, thus givinga full and solid bearing of the entire bottom surface of the foot on theground at the moment when the whole weight of the wearer. is broughtupon the artificial leg, and when the other leg is about to make a step.While this is being done the heel of the artificial leg is raised fromthe ground, while the bottom surface of the forward part of the footportion proper and the whole of the bottom surface of the toepiecesustain the weight of the wearer, the heel and the foot portion properof the artificial leg swinging upward with the axis 0 as a center ofmotion. Then as the next step of the artificial leg is commenced bylifting.the latter. from the ground the front part of the toepiece willbe inclined with relation to the foot portion properthat is to say, willbe in its normal position as it leaves the ground, in which position itis held by the elastic or yielding means in the toejoint mechanism, sothat as the artificial leg is swung forward in making its advancing stepthe toepiece will have no tendency to drag along the ground. By thismeans a natural action of the toepiece is effected and there is nodanger of the wearer stumping his toe (as it is commonly called) andfalling as a result thereof. At the same time by my construction whenthe weight of the via-1 1M r plane of division between its two parts .isin- 1 4 r I -e4s,345

wearer is brought upon the artificial foot the toepiec'e is capable ofsustaining and does sustain its'fullflshare of the weight of the wearer,and there is no tendency of it to yield or spring away from the ground.Thus,'as

- will'be seen, the said toepiece becomes an im-v portant aid inwalking, just as the toes of the natural foot do. Another advantage ofthis it 'maintain the toepiece in said normal p0 sition;,-the saidelastic or yielding mechanism having butlittle functionin moving thetoe.-

" I, piece to-it's normal position;

In view of the fact'that in my-constructi'on I cause-the'toepiecetoassist materially in maintaining the balance of'the wearer, and

' hence in-"supporting some of the weightof said wearer, itbecomesimportant to have the Y toepiece connected to-the foot portion:proper by a. joint which will notbe broken under the load to which it is'subjecteds there fore employ a joint device which is substan- 1 tiallythe same ingeneral principles of con.-

. i struction as either the ankle-joint shown in" Fig. 301' that shownin Fig. Zywhic'h have been heretofore described, the only difierencebeing that the toe-joint device is usually and preferably somewhatsmaller than the joint,

device employed as anan-kle-joint, and, furthermore, said toe-joint islocated sothat the -clined upward and forward, as shown inFig.

' ,4, whereby" it results that the connecting-bolt (which unites the two"portions of the-said toe-joint device) projects forward anddown- 'wardand has'its screw-head 1' located in a recess at the bottom of-thetoepiece, said recess being shown at i in Fig. 4.. 7 By this arrangement the adjustment ofthe-tensionzof the elastic cushions of thejoint devicemay be done readily and without requiring the dismantling ofany part of the artificialleg, it being only necessary to apply ascrewdriver to the said screw-head 2' and turn the same ineitherdirection, according as it is desirous to increase or decrease thetension of theelastic cushions or to-take up'wear in the ball-and-socketconnection.

IV, Thethigh-so'cketz-Jn general, this comprises-the front piece K, madeof any suitable material, such. as sole-leather, and preferably smoothin front, the. said front piece being connected to the upper'stay-platesA, as here'- inbe'fore described. The back-piece L of the thigh-socketis made so that it may be opened inorder toallow. the'i-nsertion of thestump I of thewearer.v

In iny preferred form of construction, as shown in Fig. 1, I unite theback piece, which is preferably of sole-leather, by meansof a hinge l,to one edge In of the front piece K. The other edge of-'said'back pieceL may bedeta'ohably secured to the corresponding edge of the front pieceby any suit;

able fastening or loc'kingsdevice. In Fig. 13 I have shown bucklesandstraps employed for this purpose, said figure also illustrating anordinary riveted. connnection j instead of the hinge, while in. Fig.1381 have. shown a lacingj in place of such hinge. 1 r p I V.Thearttficial calf 07' lower legjportwn and its. ventilated 'stu-mpplate. This' part of my invention relates to the means forventilatingthe stump and for-permitting the fitting of the leg towearers having d-ifierent lengths of stumps-which end below the knee.

For this purpose myinvention consists in making theinterior of thelower-leg portion slightly conical. and. providing a stump-plate N, Fig.14, having a thick rimn and a plurality of ventilating-holes,'asshown atn.

The leg is also provided toward the r-ear with longitudinal slots oropenings n for the entrance of; the airto the interior of the leg and tothestumpl of the-wearer.- When the leg "embodying my improvementsis' tobe fitted to a wearer having a stump ending between. the knee and ankle,the knee-socketis left open at the bottom in order that the stumpmay-project through into :the interior of the lower leg portion. Theventilated stumpplateN is then turned 0E until it is ofsuch diameterthat it willv drop. down. into the interiorof the lower leg portionu'ntil'i-t is stopped at the proper point'for the reception of thestump, ofthe wearer. It is to be understood .that a pad of open-workmaterial is to be placed on .top of the stump-plate to receive the endof the stump. 7

' In conclusion it is .to .be understood that whenever'in the abovespecification I have ''referred' to cushions-o r' similar elasticdevices these may be of india-rubber or made of metallic springs,as'desired, although I pre fer the rubber devices.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

.1. In an artificial leg, a knee-joint comprising'a pair ofupperstay-plates, a pair of lower stay-plates, pivot-bolts uniting saidstayplates and swiveled boltsbearing against the pivot-bolts andyieldingly-connected' to the stay-plates. i t n I 2. 1 In an artificialleg,'the combination with an upper stay-plate having a socket and alug,of a lower stay-plate-havinga corresponding socket and a'lug,apivot-bolt on whicheach and having their ends extending through thesockets, nuts on the projecting ends of said flanges andjconnectin'g thesaid lugs, WtSllers on the ends of the pivot bolts and connlug ispivoted, a pair of bolts connected'by a swiveled joint, bearingagainst'the' pivot-bolt tersunk into the lugs, and a pair of boltsconnected by a swivel joint and bearing against the pivot-bolt, one ofsaid bolts being provided with an enlargement intermediate the flangesof the pivot-bolt whereby rotation of said bolts is prevented, means foryieldingly connecting the ends of said bolts to the upper and lowerstay-plates, and cushioned stop devices for limiting the angularmovement of the stay-plates.

4. In an artificial leg, the combination with a footpiece, of a toepiecehaving a rearwardextending portion normally projecting below the bottomsurface of the toepiece, pivoted means for connecting the toepiece tothe footpiece, the axis of said pivotal means being forward of the saidrearward-extending portion, and yielding means for holding the toepiecein the normal position.

5. In an artificial leg, a joint device comprising two parts, oneprovided with a ball and the other with a socket, one part also havingprojecting ears with rounded ends,

the other having corresponding recesses to receive said ends a yieldingcushion arranged between both of said parts, a bolt passingv through theball and socket, and yielding means surrounding the ends of the boltsfor keeping the parts tight.

6. In an artificial leg, a joint comprising two parts having coactin gfaces receding from their actual line of contact, one part having a balland the other a socket, one part having a pair of cars with rounded endsand the other a pair of corresponding recesses to receive said roundedends, a cushion device located between the two parts and acting on each,and means for holding the parts together in a yielding manner.

7. In an artificial leg, a footpiece, a toepiece having a hole, a jointconnecting the toepiece to the footpiece and'comprising two parts, onesecured to the footpiece and the other to the toepiece, the plane ofdivision of the two pieces beinginclined upward and forward, and a boltdevice sloping forward and downward, said bolt device connecting the twoparts of the joint and having its head opposite the hole in thetoepiece, whereby the joint may be adjusted from the bottom of thetoepiece.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. PEER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD HOWARD, JOHN W. THOMAS.

